Backscene: The Heaven Below Who: Deidre "Dee" Aisli, Faer Arandil Where: Somewhere in the Brecilian Forest When: 9:42 Dragon; Ferventis (Midsummer) Summary: A sudden onslaught of current launches Deidre Aisli and Faer Arandil out of a tunnel and into a river after discovering a hidden stone chamber full of Shiny Things. Picking their way back to the Dalish camp, they run into a few more troubles... because it wouldn't be an excursion without them. Rating: PG-13 for violence Status: Complete
Who has not found the heaven below Will fail of it above. -- Emily Dickinson
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It was a series of tunnels accessible only by a hole in the ground covered by substantial overgrowth, tangled and twisted in a nest of dry twigs and verdant foilage. They led to a network of stone-wrought chambers, all of which looked and smelled ancient... walls crumbled at the brush of one's fingertips, the air was stale and heavy with must. They pursued the main avenue through cramped passages until they led to a central chamber, laden with natural crystals that glowed in the dark -- not in their own accord, however. Luminescent fungi crawled up along the rocky outcroppings, filling cracks with interspersed colors; blues, violets, and greens which chased back some of the abyssal darkness that surrounded them. In many ways, it felt like stepping into an alien world.
Unfortunately the chamber was empty, but Deidre was never one to appreciate her excursions just for the sake of the find. Experiences, overall, were the spices that flavored her life. While there didn't seem to be an artifact to be found, she took in everything around her with a sense of appreciative awe. She hardly addressed her companion as she touched defaced statues and followed the iridescent lines the multicolored glow etched on the ground. She was one who easily embraced her discoveries, marveling in things she had not seen or touched.
It was uncertain as to how they ended up the way they did.
Neither knew what had caused it, but a portion of the floor had suddenly given way, plunging both of them in a seemingly eternal void. Water, rushing in their ears and copious amounts of it, flooded all around them. The current dragged them into a narrow tunnel, the slick and twisting passage jerking their tumbling bodies around. At times, it felt like a whirlpool. In other moments, it felt like a torrential downpour. All that was certain was that there was moisture everywhere -- fast moving and all-encompassing.
Darkness suddenly faded into bright light as the two of them were yanked to the end of the tunnel.
The rush of the river ejected them with a degree of surprising force. They plummeted down several feet until splashing into a deep pool, greenery stringing through their hair and the fabric of their clothes as water closed above their heads. The echoing sounds of the waterfall bounced around a frame of granite, and it appeared that just as quickly as they had discovered another world in the depths of the Brecilian Forest, they left it the same way with no ideas as to how to return to it. It was a small mercy, perhaps, that their surroundings appeared normal... and with the birds singing in nearby branches, and the buzz of insects accompanying their chorus, no less idyllic from the sacred place they had just been expelled from.
Deidre's head broke out of the tumultuous surface, foam from the falls choking into her throat and leaving her gasping for breath. Arms moved to tread herself over the water, grabbing ahold of the rocky shore and hoisting herself upwards. Her hair was plastered all over her face, its normally dark-brown hue turning into a rich chocolate. Muddy fingers raked through her sodden tresses as hazel eyes scanned the water.
"Faer!" Her voice sounded out of place when trapped by so much nature. There was no sign of the elf.
Oh, Maker. If that passageway accidentally killed him, I might as well just offer my damned head to his Keeper when I get back!